Office of Boating Safety

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State of Alaska > Natural Resources > Parks and Outdoor Recreation

ABOUT US

	Alaska Water Wise
	U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
	U.S. Power Squadrons
	Boat/U.S. Foundation
	Boating Basics
	Boater Exam.com
	Boater 101
	Personal Watercraft Safety School

	Boating Alaska Presentation
	Cold Water Immersion Presentation
	Alaska Boating Safety Instructor Registry
	American Canoe Association
	Alaska Kayak School
	Atlantic Kayak Tours Expert Center
	Alaska Sea Kayaking Symposium
	Alaska Outdoors Paddling Classes
	Alaska Marine Safety Education Association
	Coastie The Safety Boat
	Kids Don't Float Program
	The Online Boater's Toolbox
	Alaska Boater Kids

Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles

	Alaska Boater's Handbook
	Kachemak Bay Handbook Supplement
	Kenai River Handbook Supplement
	Prince William Sound Handbook Supplement
	Alaska Float Plan
	Powerboat Pre-Departure Checklist
	Posters
	National Boating Accident Statistics

	Kids Don't Float Forms
	Alaska Water Wise Forms

	State Requirements Summary
	Alaska Boating Statutes
	Boat Accident Reporting
	The Navigation Rules
	Alaska Uniform Waterway Marking System Regulations
	Alaska Boat Motor Restrictions

	National Weather Service-Marine Weather
	National Weather Service-River Forecast Center
	US Geological Survey-Streamflow Data
	Tide Tables
	NOAA Nautical Charts and Publications

	Boat US Foundation
	National Safe Boating Council

	U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Division
	National Association of State Boating Law Administrators
	National Safe Boating Council
	National Vessel Documentation Center U.S. Coast Guard
	National Water Safety Congress

	U.S. Marinas Directory
	America's Waterway Watch
	Recalls and Safety Defects

Pledge to Live

The Alaska Office of Boating Safety has contracted for a comprehensive social marketing campaign to raise public awareness about the importance of wearing life jackets when boating on Alaska’s cold water. Visit the 'Pledge To Live' site at: http://pledgetolive.org/

Alaska Boating Statistics

In the last ten years, 105 more Alaskans died in recreational boating accidents than died in commercial fishing.

9 of 10 of those who died were adult males

5 of 6 experience a capsize or fall overboard into Alaska’s cold water

3 of 4 involve powerboats

Half are in salt water, half in fresh water

9 of 10 involve boats under 26 feet in length

MANY WOULD HAVE SURVIVED IF THEY HAD BEEN WEARING A LIFE JACKET

Key Safety Points for Alaska's Boaters

ALWAYS wear a life jacket when in an open boat or on an open deck

ALWAYS carry communication and signaling devices on your person

Make sure you have a means to easily re-board your boat from the water such as:

a swim platform
a ladder or
a foot sling

ALWAYS complete a thorough pre-departure checklist before each trip

Boating Alaska Video

Our new video, Boating Alaska, contains important information for boaters in the 49th state. While intended for those new to powerboating, all boaters should find it interesting. It is available for viewing, by chapter, at:
http://www.youtube.com/user/AlaskaBoatingProgram

Cold Water Immersion Video

In a state where capsizing and falls overboard into cold water account for the majority of boating deaths, the video, entitled Cold Water Boating, is intended to educate boaters on how to prepare for, avoid, and survive a cold water immersion event. The video has received two awards: The National Safe Boating Council's Media Award and the Videographer Awards 2008 Award of Distinction. The video depicts actual in-water situations, and provides practical and relevant information for Alaska’s boaters.

The video may be viewed on-line by linking to:
http://www.youtube.com/user/AlaskaBoatingProgram#play/uploads

Within Alaska, the Boating Alaska and Cold Water Boating videos are available at no charge at either the Anchorage or Fairbanks Alaska Department of Natural Resources Public Information Centers, or by mail (for the price of postage) from:

	Alaska Department of Natural Resources Public Information Center
	550 W. Seventh Avenue, Suite 1260 Anchorage, Alaska, 99501-3557 Telephone (907) 269-8400 dnr.pic@alaska.gov		3700 Airport Way Fairbanks, Alaska 99709 Telephone (907) 451-2706 fbx-pic@alaska.gov

ABOUT US
Alaska has over 33,000 miles of coastline (more than the entire "lower 48" states put together), over 3,000 rivers, and more than 3 million lakes. Most of the state's 621,000 residents live in our 10 largest cities, but many others live miles from the road system in towns and villages spread along the coast and our interior rivers and lakes. From power boating and air boating to rafting, kayaking, and canoeing, Alaska's boating opportunities are as superlative as they are diverse. We certainly use boats to enjoy our world-class outdoor recreation resources, but our residents also use boats as an important means of transportation, and to support subsistence. Alaskans are truly "lifestyle" boaters.

Unfortunately, we also have one of the highest non-commercial boating fatality rates in the nation. In Alaska drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death. Accident statistics reveal that 3 out of 4 boating fatalities were the result of capsizing or falling overboard into cold water, where the boater was not wearing a life jacket. Most had not taken a single boating safety course.

In response, the Alaska Boating Safety Program was established within the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation. In close cooperation with our partners, we provide boating education programs that promote safe, enjoyable boating in Alaska.

We hope you enjoy our web page. We offer a number of resources for boaters, and new items are being added, so please check back occasionally.


Last updated on Thursday, 09-Sep-2010 07:25:07 AKDT .
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